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Day Is Done Lyrics
When the day is done
Down to earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done
When the day is done
Hope so much your race will be all run
Then you find you jumped the gun
Have to go back where you begun
When the day is done
When the night is cold
Some get by but some get old
Just to show life's not made of gold
When the night is cold
When the bird has flown
Got no one to call your own
Got no place to call your home
When the bird had flown
When the game's been fought
Newspaper blown across the court
Lost much sooner that you would've thought
Now the game's been fought
When the part is through
Seems so very sad for you
Didn't do the things you meant to do
Now there's no time to start anew
Now the part is through
When the day is done
Down to earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done
Down to earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done
Hope so much your race will be all run
Then you find you jumped the gun
Have to go back where you begun
When the day is done
Some get by but some get old
Just to show life's not made of gold
When the night is cold
Got no one to call your own
Got no place to call your home
When the bird had flown
Newspaper blown across the court
Lost much sooner that you would've thought
Now the game's been fought
Seems so very sad for you
Didn't do the things you meant to do
Now there's no time to start anew
Now the part is through
Down to earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done
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This song is definately not a pick up song for me. It's more like a gentle slap in the face. It's about life stripped of any romantic notions, and how inconsequential most of our every day dealings are. Very sad but ultimately important to be aware of, I think.
This song reminds me of a quote from Viktor Frankl in his book Man's Search for Meaning. He says to, "Live as if you were living for the second time and had acted as wrongly the first time as you are about to act now." To me this song is saying we only get one shot at this thing so we better focus on the things that really matter and live vigorously and responsibly.
I just found an alternate version of this song. It has most of the original verses but the bird has flown verse is replaced by this:
When the night is cold weren't you ever told it's the time when fear is bought and sold when the night is cold
After the party verse there are two additional verses:
When they've sung this song maybe you won't feel quite so strong you're hopes won't last quite so long when they've sung this song
When they've sung this song won't be so sure what's right what's wrong not so sure where you belong when they've sung this song
This version is on an album called Second Grace. I don't know if you can buy it anywhere, but it's available to download right here: http://66.126.61.121/i_never_knew/Second%20Grace/Second_grace.html
After closely listening to my two versions, I am almost certain that the line "You sped the ball across the court" should be "Newspaper blown across the court". It makes more sense, as speeding a ball across the court doesn't provide the same dark image as a newspaper blowing through a deserted court...
This song makes me think of how much time we waste just trying and failing and how we let time slip by so carelessly without thinking of the things we let slide.
I am also convinced that it is "Newspaper blown across the court". In addition to that I think it's "When the part is through" not "party's through". But I could be wrong. Really a beautiful song btw.
This song is about the utter meaninglessness of life, how none of your accomplishments have any ultimate purpose and how everyone will forget you when you die. It's almost as despairing as most of the tracks on Pink Moon.
Seriously nobody commented on this masterpiece? It means so much to me this song. Ultimate pick me up.
Am I the only person who listens to this song and gets reminded of Hotel California? Very great song.
While some of Nick Drakes songs are a bit more optimistic than others. This isn't one of them and I wouldn't call it a pick me up song. It's basically about disappointment.